Advocates for books that matter.

James H. S. McGregor

“A fascinating reappraisal of the ecological history of the cradle of Western traditions. Its conclusions are hopeful—perhaps our war with nature is less deeply rooted than we thought.”—Bill McKibben

“James McGregor’s work on Mediterranean deep history is an exhaustive and highly convincing presentation of the sophistication and sustainability of our old Neolithic European cultures before the ‘disaster’ that civilization proved to be, overwhelmed them all.”—Gary Snyder

"Back to the Garden is a unique survey of the changing ecology of the Mediterranean world that places traditional farming practices at the center of environmental debates. We have much to learn from the neglected farmers of earlier times. In this important, beautifully written book, James McGregor throws a bright and persuasive light on the lessons that the past offers the present and future."—Brian Fagan, author of The Attacking Oceanand Elixir

“McGregor uses a chronological approach to paint a vivid and engaging portrait of the city and its inhabitants from the preclassical period to the development of Athens as a modern metropolis. McGregor pays the necessary tribute to the classical heritage, but he also sheds light on aspects of the Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern periods, and he deftly shows both the elements of continuity and the breaks with the past. The result is a well-deserved tribute to a great city.”—Jay Freeman, Booklist

“McGregor describes the great city of Athens in solid detail as it spirals out from its core on the Acropolis.”—Kirkus Reviews

“McGregor…takes readers through centuries of Greek history, art, and architecture to provide both ‘a coherent narrative’ and a travel guide.”—Publishers Weekly

“[A] definitive portrait of Paris. Combining chronological history with a cultural exploration of all things architectural, artistic and practical, this volume is a popular record that could serve as a comprehensive textbook for City of Lights 101.’”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“James H. S. McGregor’s excellent From the Ground Up series treats the city as a palimpsest, substituting space for time and allowing the reader to explore the history of a place while wandering its streets. Here he traces the story of Paris, describing the remnants of a long history that are, for the most part, buried deep beneath the city streets.”—London Review of Books

“In James H. S. McGregor’s Paris from the Ground Up—which offers an informative history of the city’s art and architecture—the Eiffel Tower necessarily [occupies] only four pages… But those four pages are invaluable… This insight is typical of McGregor, who has written three other books in the From the Ground Up series and who is at his best when elaborating on the technical aspects of Paris’s buildings.”—Caroline Weber, The New York Times Book Review

“James H. S. McGregor marches us through the city, stopping off at his favourite sites, and offering along the way extended discussions of the main features of the medieval and subsequent periods of Venetian history. Moreover, he gives a much fuller account of the city’s political structure, its distinctive social patterns, and its cultural commitments than a guide normally allows… This may well be the best short account of the structure of [St. Mark’s Basilica] and the programme of its mosaics now in print. It is full of fascinating detail and acute observation… As a sourcebook of fascinating detail about Venice, laced with a splendid invective against Napoleon, this is a work that will profit even long-time visitors.”—Theodore K. Rabb, The Times Literary Supplement

“James McGregor’s historical portrait of Europe’s strangest and most beautiful city shows how Venice’s architecture and character came about in response to the peculiar environmental challenges of its location and its precarious political position. This book is organized topographically and chronologically, allowing the reader to explore the city’s monuments and canals through both space and time.”—London Review of Books

“This survey of Rome’s past, as it evolved over 3,000 years from a string of small cities that sprung up along the Tiber into the seat of empire and finally today’s city, is part history, part architecture, part travelogue… McGregor metaphorically digs into the soil beneath Rome’s present-day monuments to ‘reconnect the modern city with its ancient counterparts.’ Each chapter considers the monuments in the order that a visitor would encounter them while walking through the city, resulting in a guide for the thoughtful traveler as well. Color photos, engravings, historical maps, architectural plans and drawings bring Rome’s past to life.”—Christine Delsol, The San Francisco Chronicle

“Despite the organized chaos of its streets and squares, Rome was not a planned city, but a group of cities that gradually became one. In Rome from the Ground Up, James H. S. McGregor describes how this happened in prose so clear you’ll think it came from one of Rome’s many springs.”—John Freeman, The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

“While no single book can ever do justice to such a city, McGregor’s study provides an illuminating and practical introduction to Rome… For those lucky enough to find themselves in Rome for the first time, McGregor’s integrated approach to the architecture, culture and history of the city would be a useful and reliable aid to understanding its manifold complexities.”—Peter Keegan, Bryn Mawr Classical Review